Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[1] "Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido" is the iaidō (居合道?) style of the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF, Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei or ZNKR). This style of iaido is also often known as Seitei Iaido (制定 居合道) and Zenkenren Iaido.

Respect shown to the sword (tōrei) before and after practice.
Respect shown to the sword (tōrei) before and after practice.

There are many schools of iaido and many forms of iaido kata. To popopularise iaido and to make it easier for kendo practitioners to learn iaido, an expert committee was established by the AJKF to review the situation. The committee subsequently selected the basic techniques from major iaido schools to form the curriculum of Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido.

Contents

The AJKF was founded in 1952, immediately following the restoration of Japanese independence and the subsequent lift of the ban on martial arts in Japan. In 1969, the AJKF introduced its seitei curriculum of seven iaido kata. These were drawn from or based on several of the major traditional sword schools, including Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, Musō Shinden-ryū and Hoki-ryū. Three more kata were added in 1981 and two more in 2000, increasing the number of seitei iaido kata to the current twelve. These kata are officially known as the "All Japan Kendo Federation Iai" (全日本剣道連盟居合 Zen Nippon Kendō Renmei Iai?), or Zen Ken Ren Iai (全剣連居合) and commonly referred to as seitei or seitei-gata.

The twelve seitei-gata are now standardised for the tuition, promotion and propagation of iaido within the kendo federations. Although not all dojo teach seitei iaido, the AJKF uses them as a standard for their exams and shiai. As a result, seitei iaido has become the most widely recognised form of iaido in Japan and the rest of the world.

[edit] AJKF official forms

Dojo that are affiliated with the All Japan Kendo Federation, generally begin practice with these twelve forms or seitei-gata before going on to teach any classical forms of iaidō that may also be included in their curriculum. [2]

  1. Mae (前?). Front. Commencing from a kneeling position, forestalling a frontal attack.
  2. Ushiro (後ろ?). Rear. Commencing from a kneeling position, forestalling an attack from the rear.
  3. Ukenagashi (受け流し?) Receive, Parry and Cut. Commencing from a kneeling position, parrying an attack from the left.
  4. Tsuka-ate (柄当て?). Striking with the Hilt. Commencing from a raised knee, seated position, forestalling two attackers, front and rear.
  5. Kesagiri (袈裟切り?). Diagonal Cut. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling an approaching attacker.
  6. Morote-zuki (諸手突き?). Two-Hand Thrust. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling three approaching attackers, two in front and one behind.
  7. Sanpōgiri (三方切り?). Three Direction Cut. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling three approaching attackers, one each to the right, left and front.
  8. Ganmen-ate (顔面当て?). Hit to the Face. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling two approaching attackers, front and rear.
  9. Soete-zuki (添え手突き?). Joined Hand Thrust. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling an attack from the left.
  10. Shihōgiri (四方切り?). Four Direction Cutting. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling four approaching attackers.
  11. Sōgiri (総切り?). Complete Cuts. Five different and complete cuts. Commencing from a standing position.
  12. Nukiuchi (抜き打ち?). Sudden Draw. Avoid, then respond to an attack from the front. Commencing from a standing position.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai, English Version Manual 3rd edition, published October 2006, by All Japan Kendo Federation, Tokyo, Japan.
  2. ^ Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai, English Version Manual 3rd edition, published October 2006, by All Japan Kendo Federation, Tokyo, Japan.

[edit] Further reading

  • "Art of Japanese Swordsmanship : A Manual of Eishin-Ryu Iaido". Publisher: Weatherhill; 1 edition (Jun 1 1994).
  • "Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai", English Version Manual, 3rd edition, published October 2006, by All Japan Kendo Federation, Tokyo, Japan.
  • "Japanese Swordsmanship : Technique and practice". By Gordon Warner & Donn F. Draeger. Publisher: Weatherhill; 1982.

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Martial arts by focus
Martial arts are listed by area of primary focus; please note that they may include training in the other areas.
Striking
Grappling
Weaponry
Mixed, hybrid,
and multi-discipline